Heater construction, including door draft and closure means



Dec. 12, 1950 s. P. LocKE HEATER CONSTRUCTION, INCLUDING DooR DRAFT AND cLosURE MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 24, 1948 l TIPE/:UTET

`Saz22 EL Ocle Dec. l2, 1950 s. P. LocKE 2,533,674

HEATER CONSTRUCTION, INCLUDING DooR DRAFT AND CLosuRE MEANS Filed July 24, 194s 2 sheets-sheet 2 505122 PLUG/Ze Patented Dec. 172A, 1950 UNITED HEATER CONSTRUCTION, INCLUDING DOOR DRAFT AND CLOSURE MEANS Sam P. Locke, Mexico, Mo.

Application July 24, 1948, Serial No. 40,541

This invention relates to heating devices such as stoves, furnaces, boilers, and the like. More specifically, the invention relates to an inexpensive ash door for use in heating devices burning solid fuel.

According to this invention, the ash door on a stove or furnace is composed of sheet metal. Preferably, the radius of curvature of the sheet metal door is greater than the radius of curvature of the heating device or frame to which the door is attached so that the door is Linder stress when closed and so that it digresses from the shape of the door frame when open and in an unstressed condition. It is also preferable to have a means for adjusting the degree of closure of the ash door in order to control the draft of the heating device.

In the past, ash doors on heating devices have been composed of metal castings. It has been the practice to cast a door and a frame and to grind the two to the proper t. This construction is both cumbersome and costly. Y

It is an object of this invention to provide an ash door for a heating device which is simple, effective and inexpensive.

Another object of the invention is to provide a heating device having a sheet metal ash door in which tight closure is effected by utilizing the natural spring of the sheet metal.

A further object of the invention is to provide a single draft stove or furnace in which the draft may be adjusted by controlling the degree of closure of the door.

A still further object is to provide a stove in which an ash door frame is sealed into the casing along with the stove bottom in a single operation.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the annexed sheets of drawings which disclose preferred embodiments of the invention.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a stove according to this invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary crosssectional View through the ash pit looking down along the line III--III of Figure 2;

14 Claims. (Cl. 126-73) 2 Figure 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-V of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V of Figure Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of Figure 4; and

Figure 'l is an exploded View oi Figure 5 showing the make-up of the parts of Figure 5.

As shown on the drawings:

Numeral I ii designates a stove according to this invention. The stove i@ is composed of a cylindrical sheet metal body member Ii having a top or dome i2 on the top thereof with an ash opening recess II@ having an upper edge III and side edges I I2 and a bottom plate i3 closing the bottom thereof.

The top I 2 has a smoke outlet or collar Ill. A fuel charging door I5 is mounted on the top I2.

Body member Ii is supported by legs IS. The legs It extend vertically for some distance along the body member II as shown particularly in Figure 1. Bolts I 'EB at the top of legs I6 pass through the body member i i and through sleeves I'IS (Figure 6), which support a grate ring i8. The bolts IlB also pass through straps i'iA (Figures 1 and 6) which support a foot rest or rail member I1. Each of the legs it has two fingers IBA (Figures 2 and 6) extending upward in support of member 2S and bottom plate i3. in addition to supporting bottom plate I3, fingers H3A help to maintain bottom plate i3 in a gas-tight sealed condition. Grate ring i8 inside .member Ei may be of any conventional design. Grate i9 rests on grate ring I8. Grate I9 may also be of conventional design. For the sake of simplicity and clarity, grate rin'g I8 and grate I9 have been omitted from Figure 4.

Member II may be lined With a refractory material 2 I. If it is desired to have a magazinetype stove, flues 22 may be provided in the refractory material. In this event the refractory lining immediately above grate ring i8 is made thicker and ue passages 22 begin several inches above grate ring I8.

Ash door 23 is provided below grate ring I8. Ash door 23 which is composed of iiexble sheet metal opens on hinges 24. Ash door 23 is kept closed or is opened to the desired degree by means of adjusting nut 25. Adjusting nut 25 turns on bolt 2S which is hinged or pivoted from body member l l so as to pass through slot member 2l on ash door 23. Ash door 23 has a radius of curvature which is greater than the radius of curvature or" member il. Thus, when ash door 23 is closed by tightening nut 25 against slot member 2l, the natural spring of the flexible sheet metal of which the ash door is constructed helps to maintain tight closure. As adjusting nut 25 is loosened, ash door 23 springs open, and thus the flexibility of sheet metal ash door 23 enables careful control oi' the draft to be maintained.

It is not necessary that the surface to which ash door 23 is attached be curved. If the surface is fiat, it is only necessary that ash door 23 be given a slight outward curvature iin order toY utilize the natural springiness of the sheetmetal to. effect a tight closure.

Ash door 23 ts into door frame 28, be cast or forged. Door frame 2,8l may be fixed in place in the ash opening recess HU along with bottom plate i3 in a single operation. Ailigdres 5 and 'l illustrate specivcally this method of fabrication. Bottom plate i is flanged as at i3d, `and the flange portion i3d fits into an annular space 29a o f a channel ring 2Q. An outer protruding portion r29h ofchannel ring 29 fits into furrow or groove 3l of door frame 28 (Figure 7). Groove or furrow 3l runs all the way around door frame 23 and is the means of securing it in, place. When pressure is applied to the outside andz inside of channel ,ring 29J ash door frame 28 isflxed in place and bottom plate I3 is sealed tight. VAsbestos packing 36 (Figure 5) insures a tight fit. Door frame i8 helps to maintain the-rigidity of the apparatus and lingers ISA on legs I6 provide additional support through their grip on channel ring 29.

In operating the apparatus illustrated in the drawings,` a charge of fuel, ,suchl as .CQtL is shoveled through fuel door l5 onto grate i9. Ash door 23 is opened Wide, and the fuel charge is ignited. As soon as the combustion is proceeding rapidly, ash door 23 is closed suiciently for bolt 26 to be pivoted so that adjusting nut 25 impinges onv slot member 2l. The degree of draftis then adjusted by means of adjusting nut 25..

From the above description, it may be seen that this invention provides an inexpensive and eifactive ash door, and the saving in weight enables a much lighter stove to be designed.

lt will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied through'a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and it is, therefore, notV the purpose tolimit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the `scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. A heater construction y,co rnprising a cylindrical casing having a. recess ext-ending upwardly from the'bottorn thereof, a substantiallycuryed door frame defining a door opening and' having -a peripheral charme]v therearound receiving the marginal edge of the recess-defining portion of the casing in the top and sides thereof,'a bottom for saisl casing having a peripheral iarige, a the casing inthe top and sides thereof, a bottom and having one leg tliereofv ,extending into the channel portion along the bottom of the door frame, legs4 at spaeedintervals around said ycasing having recesses receiving said channel ring together with upstanding portions overlying the Casing and extending, l0 levels. above the door,

4 opening, bolts extending through the upper ends of said leg portions and into said casing, a rail supported by said legs and extending around the casing from the sides of the door frame in spaced relation outwardly from the casing, a grate ring in said casing supported by said bolts, a grate carried by said grate ring, refractory brick supported on top of said grate ring and extending to the upper portion of said casing ior defining a combustion and fuel chamber above the grate, a top for said casing having a fuel-charging door and a smoke outlet, a flexible sheet metal door hinged on said vdoor frame to Qontrol the door opening therein, said Sheet metal `door in its unstressed condition being substantially straightened to a shape out of conformity with the curvature of theY door frame, and means for progre ively and selectively stressing said sheet ,curvatuige of the door frame for effecting control of the door opening and for regulating draft therethrough. l

2,. l heater construction comprising a cylindrical casing having a recess extending upwardly from tnebottom thereof, a door. frame., in the .eo-nfigurationof a Cylindrical. segment. .and defining adoor openings. saiddoor frame haring neriuh eral oharmel tneroaround for. receiving the niarginal edge of the recess-defining portion of the casing inthe top and sides thereof. means for fastening said door fr arne in recess, av grate ring in said Casing, a grate carried by said grate ring, said grate, ring, ,grate Casing Ydeining a, .C QrnbustiOn'ChambSr., a ton ior said .Casing llavingy a fuel charging door vand a. Ysmoke outlet, a flexible sheet instal Vdoor hinged-on .said .door from@ to control said door opening, saidnexiblo sheetmetai door .in its unstressed condition being curved on a radius .of curvature substantially sreaterihan thatof the door iramaand means for progressively and selectively vstressing said sheet metal. doQf: to flex ,ity towards ysubstantial curvato .Conformity with the door frame for oon-v trolling the door opening and for regulating. draft therethrough.

3 A'heatsr. Construction comprising a cylindri-` cal casing haring recess extoriding upwardly from the-bottoni thereof, curved door frame defining a door opening .and having a peripheral Channel therearoiindrooeiving tnemarginal edge ofthe recess` deining portion, of thel casing in thev ton and sides4 thereof, a lbottom Afor said casing. having a peripheral, flange, aohannel. ring receiv-A ing the dans@ ofv said bottom and having one leg thereof. extending intothe channel portion along the bottom .of the .door frame, legs at seacedine tervals around said casing having recesses receiving, said Channel ring together with upstanding portions overlying the casing. and. extending above the door opening, bolts extending through the upper ends of said leg portions and into said,

casing, a. grate ring in saidA casing supported by said bolts, a gratecarriediby. saidgratering, a top. for said casing having afuel-.charging door and. smoke outlet, said grate ring, grate, casing, and. top dening a combustion chamber, an, ash, pit below said grate ring, and a ilexiblesheetmetal door hing-,ad orisaid door framasaid sheet metal door in its unstressed condition being substantially .straightJY andmeans for progressvelyand selectively stressing said sheet metal, door to'nex. it into curi/,ate conformity with the door frame for controllingA the doorv opening and for regulating draft therethrough.

4. A heater construction comprising a cylindrical casing having a recess extending upwardly from the bottom thereof, a door frame defining a door opening and having a peripheral channel therearound receiving the marginal edge of the recess defining portion of the casing in the top and sides thereof, a bottom for said casing having a peripheral fiange, a channel ring receiving the flange of said bottom and having one leg thereof extending into the channel portion along the bottom of the door frame, a grate ring supported inside said casing, a grate carried by said grate ring, a top for said casing having a fuel-charging door and smoke outlet, said grate ring, grate, casing, and top defining a combustion chamber, an ash pit below said grate ring, and a flexible sheet metal door hinged on said door frame, said door in an unstressed condition being straightened to at least greater curvature than the door frame, and means for progressively and selectively stressing said sheet metal door to flex it into registering conformity with the door opening edges of the door frame for controlling the draft through the door opening.

5. A heater construction comprising a cylindrical casing, a grate ring supported inside said casing, a grate carried by said grate ring, a top for said casing, said grate ring, grate, casing and top defining a combustion chamber, smoke outlet means and fuel-charging means for said combustion chamber, an ash pit below said combustion chamber, an ash pit opening leading through said casing to said ash pit, a curved door frame in said ash pit opening, and a fiexible sheet metal ash door hinged on said door frame, said sheet metal door in its unstressed condition being substantially straight, and means for progressively and selectively stressing said sheet metal door to ex it into curvate conformity with the door frame for closing the door opening and for regulating draft through the door opening.

6.' A heater construction comprising a cylindrical casing, a grate ring supported inside said casing, a grate carried by said grate ring, a top for said casing, said grate ring, grate, casing, and top defining a combustion chamber, smoke outlet means and fuel-charging means for said combustion chamber, an ash pit below said combustion chamber, an ash pit opening leading through said casing to said ash pit, and a exible sheet metal ash door hinged near the edge of said opening, said door being straightened to at least substantially greater curvature than said casing when in unstressed condition, and means for progressively and selectively stressing said sheet metal door to flexibly deform it into curvate conformity with the cylindrical casing for closing the door opening and for regulating draft through the door opening.

'7. A heater construction comprising a cylindrical casing having a recess extending upwardly from the bottom thereof, a door frame defining a door opening and having a peripheral channel therearound receiving the marginal edge of the recess-defining portion of the casing in the top and sides thereof, a bottom for said casing having a peripheral flange, a channel ring receiving the fiange of said bottom and having one leg thereof extending into the channel portion along the bottom of the door frame, legs at spaced intervals around said casing having recesses receiving said channel ring, a grate ring supported inside said casing, a grate carried by said grate ring, a top for said casing, said grate ring, grate, casing and top defining a combustion chamber, smoke outlet means and fuel-charging means for said combustion chamber, and a door hinged on said door frame.

8. In a heating device including a cylindrical body member having an ash opening therein, a grate ring in said body member, and a grate cooperating with the grate ring, the improvement which comprises a hinged ash door on said casing and below said grate which said door is composed of sheet metaL'said door having a radius of curvature substantially greater than the radius of curvature of said cylindrical body and being flexible under stress to conform to curved configurations determined by reduced radii of curvature to thereby close said opening.

9. A heating device comprising a curved body member having a grate construction therein, a fuel inlet for said body member, an ash outlet for said body member, a flexible sheet metal door for said ash outlet, said door being normally straightened to at least greater curvature than said curved lbody member, hinging means for said door, and latching means attached to said body member for flexing said door towards curvate conformity with said body member to control the degree of opening of said ash outlet.

10. A heating device comprising a shell defining a combustion chamber, a grate forming the bottom of the combustion chamber, an ash outlet below said combustion chamber, said ash outlet having a curved door frame, a substantially flattened door composed of flexible metal, hinging means for said door, and variable latch means between said shell and said door for progressively exing said door towards the shape of the door frame and towards a closing relationship with the ash outlet.

11. A heating device comprising a shell defining a combustion chamber, a grate forming the bottom of the combustion chamber, an ash outlet below said shell, said ash outlet having a curved door frame, a door composed of flexible sheet metal normally extended towards a flattened configuration and having slot means, hinging means for said door at a side opposite said slot means, a hinged bolt extending from said shell and capable of being pivoted into said slot means on said door, and a nut for adjusting the tension on said hinge bolt whereupon said door may be flexed into a curvate shape to close said ash outlet.

12. A heating device comprising a shell defining a combustion chamber, a grate forming the bottom of the combustion chamber, a curved member forming an ash outlet below said shell, said curved member having a door composed of sheet metal having slot means and normally extended towards a straightened shape, hinging means for said door, a bolt pivotally mounted on said curved member and disposed to be pivoted into said slot means on said door, and an adjusting nut member for tightening said bolt against said slot means to adjust the degree of closure of said door by progressively flexing said door into variable curvate shapes determined by reduced radii of curvature.

13. In a heating device including a heat-radiating body member, a grate ring secured to said body member in spaced relation to the bottom thereof, a grate cooperating with the grate ring, and a curved member forming an ash outlet below said grate, the improvement which comprises an ash outlet door hingedly mounted on said curved member and composed of flexible sheet metal and means to stress said door towards and into :closing l'.'fegstw with. said ":assh Yvoutet, fsaid .door in its .runstressed l:conctitioifi iheiug .substantial flat sheet-Eke '-form.

14. In a draft controlled heating device having .an ash outlet situated in .a fcurvedrwa'll portion of the .devicejhe improvement fo-f a 'hinged fas'hdoor made of fkexble material 'and being substantial'ly flat `man unstressed :condition Land adjustable latehjng imeansconnected :between said ',portifm Vmi sadheating. dex/'irsev and-said lhirigedba'slfl door adjacent. said outlet'to successivelyiex :said-*door .toward 'icurvate conformity with .rsaid device, whereby the ash 'outlet degr'eeyof fopening' may .be -closelyzcontro'lled SAM-1P. LQCKE.

`REEERENGES "SPEED The following .references .me Vof record 'inlt'lrie -i1eof .this patent:

Number Name Date 685,194 Young L- w he 61:15.22] 11901 881,251 Hefner v Y May V12, 1.908

.1,047,588 fstuu -1.; `V .ilnee.- 1' 1912 1,582,121 Chu-mley a t. .L6M-300 Cantrell Y ,1,631,116 Barelman- 2,133,421 Brownwa- M- mi... .oetisgi'S-s 

